Donovan McNabb

“I think what we’ve had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn’t deserve. The defense carried this team.”

Limbaugh, as a commentator on ESPN’s NFL Sunday Countdown, was speaking about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, who he felt had been glamorized in the media. McNabb fired back two days later to the Philadelphia Daily News: “It’s sad that you’ve got to go to skin color. I thought we were through with that whole deal.”

His words sparked an outrage in the black community, with influential politicians like Howard Dean and Wesley Clark calling on ESPN to fire Limbaugh. Shortly after, the TV host resigned his spot on the show. “My comments this past Sunday were directed at the media and were not racially motivated. I offered an opinion. This opinion has caused discomfort to the crew, which I regret.”